Cleveland Browns

Fearless Forecast

The trio of Brandon Weeden, Trent Richardson and Josh Gordon shows promise, but not enough to keep up with the heavyweights in the division. Prediction: 5-11, fourth in AFC North

Daniel Jeremiah

Rookies Trent Richardson and Brandon Weeden will bring an element of explosiveness to the offense that has been missing in Cleveland for a very long time. Unfortunately, the AFC North is too strong for the Browns to be able to make any huge gains in the win column.Prediction: 5-11, fourth in AFC North

Adam Schein

Look at the schedule. It is impossible. And the Browns are the worst team in the NFL. I considered 0-16. But I'm in a good mood.
Prediction: 1-15, fourth in AFC North

Steve Wyche

Brandon Weeden will have his ups and downs, which will be the good news. The likely upheaval in the front office and coaching staff could disrupt this season if wins don't come early.Prediction: 5-11, fourth in AFC North

The obvious answer might be rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden, but his job becomes a mite easier if rookie running back Trent Richardson is lined up behind him. Richardson had arthroscopic surgery to remove cartilage fragments and while the Browns are hopeful he’ll be back for Week 1, if he’s not full-go soon, no committee of backs can match what this one No. 4 pick can do.

3 Pivotal Games

Week 6 vs. Bengals

The Bengals showed last year just how quickly two young skill players can throw off the shroud of a few bad years. The Browns have talked about using the Andy Dalton-A.J. Green model themselves and this game, the teams’ second meeting and on the Browns’ home field, could offer a benchmark of where Cleveland is. Of course, the Browns will be coming off two road games at the Ravens and the Giants. By then, the damage might already be done..

Week 7 at Colts

Bad news: It’s seven games into the season and Colts quarterback Andrew Luck has probably worked out some of his rookie kinks. Good news: It might be the first game of the season they’re favored.

Week 15 vs. Redskins

Since LeBron left, this city has been craving a superstar. The Browns get an up-close look at a true franchise quarterback in Robert Griffin III on this day; maybe they’ll find theirs measures up. Or maybe they’ll think they should’ve gone to every length to get a true megastar -- just like the Redskins did.